Principal's Report

Night of Excellence  

We celebrated the outstanding achievements of our students for 2025 at the Night of 

Excellence. It was a time to pause, reflect, and recognise the incredible effort, growth, and spirit that our students bring to our school community. 

Our school is built on the values of courage, aspiration, respect, and equality. Our school values shone through in so many ways: 

• The courage of students who have stepped outside their comfort zones, tried something new, and discovered strengths they didn’t know they had. 

• The aspiration of those who set ambitious goals and worked tirelessly to reach them. 

• The respect shown in classrooms, on the sports field, and in friendships, where kindness and understanding make all the difference. 

• And the commitment to equality, ensuring that every student has the chance to succeed and be celebrated for who they are. 

Awards are not just about results—they are about the journey, the resilience, and the character that each student shows along the way.  

Thank you to our families for the support you give, and to our staff for the dedication and care you show every day. Together, we create the environment where our students can flourish. 

Students were acknowledged and celebrated for   

• high levels of academic achievement,   

• high levels of endeavour, effort and commitment to learning  

• outstanding achievement in learning areas  

• exemplary demonstration of the College values  

• outstanding achievement in special programs  

• outstanding community service and contribution to the life of the College.  

The  Staff Service Awards recognise and celebrate the dedication, commitment, and lasting contribution of teachers and Education Support Staff who have given many years of service to our school community. These awards acknowledge not only the length of service, but the passion, professionalism, and care our teachers and staff consistently show in supporting students, colleagues, and the wider school community.  

Through their commitment to teaching excellence, positive relationships, and the values of our school, these staff members have made a meaningful and enduring impact on the lives of countless students. We sincerely thank them for their years of service and their continued dedication to education.  

• 15 years of service Sarah Daley, Laura Frazer and Dianna Zuell  

• 30 years of service Donna Osborne and Paul Rycroft 

 A list of all award recipients is in this newsletter. 

VCE Results  

Our students achieved outstanding VCE results this year. You would have seen on our social platforms the celebration of the wonderful results some students achieved. Our College Dux, Eysha Denison, achieved an ATAR of 92.25 and is aiming to study Global Challenges at Monash University. The College’s median study score increased to 29, which was one of the top scores in our network.    

 I would like to acknowledge the staff who have impacted these results this year and over the past five years for these students. Everyone in our school has contributed to the improved outcomes for our VCE and VCAL students. The Class of 2025 is to be congratulated, with many students receiving unconditional early offers to tertiary courses.  I would also like to acknowledge our Pathways Practitioner, Jane Alexander, whose knowledge and expertise in the area of course counselling and selection coupled with her care and compassion for our students continues to result in excellent destination outcomes.  Andrew Ericksen has also been a valuable member of the Pathways team and has assisted Jane and the students over the past few years. 

For many of our students achieving the VCE certificate has been their desired outcome.  We have also seen wonderful outcomes for our students in the VCE Vocational Major course. We would like to congratulate the Dux of the course, Kaitlyn Dearing, for her wonderful achievements this year. 

Well done to students, staff and families!  

Staff News  

On Friday, we will say goodbye to some staff members. Some will be taking a year’s leave of absence and may return in 2027.  We thank them for their commitment and contribution to our school community and for their teaching and support of the students during their time at the College. We wish all these staff members the very best in their future endeavours.  

To the following staff members who are taking leave for the year we wish you all the best in the pursuit of other work, personal journeys and interests: Patrick Willach, Harry O’Neil, Kami Gillick-Lewis, Andrew Ericksen and Sue Davison. 

We thank Olie Balestra for her work teaching Italian for the past 18 months, and we wish her all he best at her new school.   

Sam Harrison has been part of the Nexus program with Latrobe University, having worked at the college for the past two years, firstly in Education Support and secondly as a paraprofessional teacher in Science and Health and PE. We wish Sam all the best at his new school. 

Happy Holidays  

 The appalling events at Bondi Beach last weekend have cast a cloud over the upcoming festive season and we send our condolences to the families of those who died, we express our love and care for any in our school community directly impacted by these events and acknowledge that we are all affected by what occurred. 

However, the festive season is a time for gratitude and celebration. I am deeply thankful to our dedicated staff for their tireless work, to our families for their ongoing support, and to our students for the energy, curiosity, and joy they bring each day. 

Our students have shown remarkable courage in tackling challenges, aspiration in striving for their goals, respect in the way they support one another, and a commitment to equality that makes our school community stronger and more inclusive. These values have shone through in classrooms, on the sports fields, in creative pursuits, and in the everyday kindnesses that make our school such a special place.

As we look forward to the holidays, I encourage everyone to take time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the company of loved ones. May the festive season bring peace, happiness, and hope for the year ahead. 

On behalf of the school, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe, joyful New Year.